Norwich church tells of 90-year community role 

Connect Norwich attendees heard about the great community work done by Oak Grove Community Church in its local area over the past 90 years, during its latest Christian leaders lunch on January 21.

After a shared lunch, the 27+ leaders heard from Oak Grove Senior Leader Darren Woodward, who said: “The Oak Grove Chapel building is used for activities every day of the week and there is church-run charity shop next door. On Sundays, the church meets in the nearly primary school, as it has done for the last 18 years.
 
“During our 90th anniversary celebrations over the past year, we have reflected as a congregation that God is 100% faithful. The personnel will change and the methodology may change. But we stand on the shoulder of giants, and are grateful for what’s gone before. We are reminded of God’s promise ‘to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lead not on your own understanding’.”
 

Assistant Leader, Daniel Starling, has been part of Oak Grove most of his life and oversees the youth and children’s work. He told the gathering: “I love my job and I love this community. We are all about celebrating young people. It’s a tough time for young people at the moment – tougher than it ever has been. But we have some fantastic young people in this community. We want to celebrate them and integrate them. They have so much to give and so much we can learn from them.”
 
Daniel explained that there is a Friday night youth club, and once a month, on Sundays, we have lunch together and help them to get to know the rest of the church. “We want to disciple them and we want them to know Jesus.”
 
Church Family Support Worker, Lynette Woodward, told the meeting: “I love our community and we’ve got to know families very well. They are part of our church, they are part of our family.

“My role is a privilege, sometimes chaotic, but we have absolutely beautiful families and are good friends with us. God has placed us here for a purpose - to strengthen family unity. We see a lot of broken families, which is hard for everyone. The church runs parenting courses which has helped them get to know people really well.

“We are now working with Gateway Vineyard to lead some parenting courses together. Oak Grove is also running an exploring faith group for parents, with several keen to explore Christian faith – we have been overwhelmed by response.”
 
www.oakgrovecommunitychurch.co.uk
 
The Connect Norwich meeting also heard from Peace Catalyst Phil Gazely as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity running all this week.

The next Connect Norwich leaders lunch will be held at the Salvation Army Citadel on Wednesday March 18. More details to follow.

Pictured above is Darren Woodward addressing the Connect Norwich meeting at Oak Grove.